This place seemed kinda cute so we stopped by to check it out. It was pretty empty inside but the…read moreemployees were clearly stressed out about something. When my wife asked for assistance, the elderly employee just walked past her. I was able to get help from the younger girl leaning against the counter but to be honest, it seemed like neither of them wanted to be there or help us so we just fended for ourselves. There was a big stage to one side, but nothing happening there so the kids just sat there and waiting for us adults to finishing perusing. There are lots of alcohol and coffee options but nothing stood out as a must have so we ended up not getting anything. We were pretty hungry, but there were no food options except vending machine type food, so we were out of luck. Be sure to grab a seat inside and enjoy the nursing home quality heat levels. There are more seats available outside but the smell of the full trash cans scattered is around was rather unpleasant.

Blue 42's Brewing Barn is the kind of place you stumble upon and instantly want to tell everyone…read moreabout. I stopped in while heading down to OBX, in search of a decent latte or frappe, and was blown away by how much more this place offers. Not only did I get a delicious Java chip frappe, but there was also live music playing, great vibes, and a surprisingly wide selection of goodies for sale. It's a cozy, small-town spot that packs everything a tourist could want. The woman running the show was doing it all, from expertly pouring drafts to crafting my frappe with care & she did it with a smile. It's rare to find a place that balances beer, coffee, charm, and community all in one. Whether you're craving a cold brew, need a break from the road, or just want to soak in some local flavor, Blue 42's Brewing Barn is the perfect pitstop.

Great sandwiches!!! Cute place just off the highway, cozy…read moreand cute so get here!!! Easy in and out too

Pass the Salt is definitely a quaint and charming little restaurant. We sat outside on the patio at…read morea high-top table, although the stools were pretty uncomfortable. I ordered the Baja Burrito, and my fiancé got the Blackened Bleu Bacon Burger. Unfortunately, we both felt our meals were lacking in flavor. My burrito wasn't bad, but it definitely needed more salt (ironic for a place called Pass the Salt!) and some kind of sauce. It just felt a little bland and like it was missing something. The chips and salsa were tasty, although I wish we had been given more salsa. The burger was also underwhelming. The fries were good, but nothing particularly special. The service was friendly, which we appreciated. However, we felt the prices were too high for the quality of the food. The atmosphere is charming, but overall, we left feeling like the meal wasn't worth the price.

Muddy Waters is the best coffee spot in Elizabeth City. Once upon a time (over a decade ago) I…read morelived in the Pacific Northwest where tiny shacks on the side of the road are better than ANY of the big name coffee shops. Period. Not a question. We aren't even going to fight about it. After moving away, I pretty much gave up on finding anything that's even remotely as good.... Until I discovered Muddy Waters. One of their drinks (Irish Boxer) tastes EXACTLY like my favorite drink from a shack in WA (that was called the Voldemort) and I have never looked back since. Wonderful service every single time we go, everyone is so friendly. And the atmosphere is just so eclectic and awesome. There is always people at the tables and chairs. And the tables are so unique and honestly should be considered more art than tables. Anyway. If you get the chance. Stop in. Get the Irish Boxer. Thank me later.

Cute little coffee shop that has been a part of the community for 25+ years. The service was spot…read moreon. There was a food amount of coffee and drinks choices.

This farm market is sooo cute! It was worth the 1+ hour drive. There is so much to do and see. The…read morebest part is that they are dog friendly so I was able to be in and out with my pup. We went on a Saturday and there was live music. I also like how there's a lot of shelter as it was pouring the day we went. My sister and I bought a lot of goodies to bring home. I really enjoyed my banana pudding cake. It's still delicious almost a week later!

This place is wildly overpriced for what you actually get. I paid $14 for a single Redneck eggroll…read morethat was about the size of a standard Chinese takeout eggroll. It was filled with collard greens and BBQ pork, but there was barely any filling inside. For $14, I expected something substantially larger and more filling. Instead, it felt like I paid full meal prices for a tiny appetizer. The alcoholic drinks were another disappointment. The entire selection was wine-based, yet they're presented as cocktails. To make matters worse, the drinks come in aluminum cans that are opened and poured into clear plastic cups. This is an outdoor market, so naturally it's hot outside. Within about 15 minutes, the drink was warm and noticeably watered down from melting ice. For what they're charging, I expected something that would actually stay enjoyable for more than a few minutes. And then there was the customer service. The woman at the register took my payment, didn't give me everything I ordered, and then walked away when I tried to get her attention. I had to wave down another employee just to get what I had already paid for. When you're charging premium prices, the food, drinks, and service should actually feel worth the money. Unfortunately, none of them did. The only positive thing I can say is that the actual market itself is very nice and appealing to walk through. They have a good variety of produce, merchandise, and other vendors, and the atmosphere is pleasant. Unfortunately, the food and drink experience didn't live up to the market itself. The food, drinks, and customer service left a lot to be desired. With the prices being as high as they are, I expected a much better experience. The market may be worth visiting to browse, but I would personally skip the food and drinks.

On a recent business trip, I stopped by The Kraken to grab a coffee for my wife and something…read moredifferent for myself. The building is fantastic. It's incredibly inviting, with a fun theme and a beautiful mix of mid-century leather furniture and warm wood accents that make you want to hang out for a while. The young lady who helped me was an absolute 10 out of 10. My wife enjoys a very specific type of iced coffee, and I always get tongue-tied trying to explain it because not every coffee shop can recreate what she's looking for. She listened, understood exactly what I meant, and absolutely nailed it. She was genuinely friendly, patient, and a pleasure to deal with. She also talked me into ordering some sort of creamy orange, dirty coconut concoction that I'm fairly certain I could never successfully order again...but whatever it was, it was phenomenal. I thoroughly enjoyed it. As a general rule, I don't tip at places where you order at the counter. I've always felt tipping is reserved for servers who are taking care of you at a table. But exceptional service deserves to be recognized, and the friendliness, knowledge, and genuine hospitality I received earned them a well-deserved 20% tip. If you're looking for great coffee, a unique atmosphere, and people who truly enjoy what they do, The Kraken is well worth the stop. To those about to nosh, I salute you!

Beautiful coffee house with fun decor in a great location. I had high hopes…read more Unfortunately, I find the coffee pretty mediocre. Ordered a 12 oz mocha but got a latte. They tried adding chocolate powder to it to fix it. I wish I had insisted on a re-do. Even after I doctored it a little before I left, I couldn't bring myself to finish the drink. Your experience may differ. I don't want to torch this place with my review. But I've tried it twice and probably won't again.

Continued 5 STAR LOVE AND ADMIRATION for Kind Cup coffee shop and its very cool, eclectic…read morecollection of handmade jewelry, home decor, art pieces and clothing housed inside (you would never guess all that's inside the shop unless you ventured in!). Kind Cup, first and foremost, is an indie coffee spot that has amazing (strong, not wimpy weak) coffee and latte drinks, a (usually well stocked) display case of baked goods (get there early in the busy season else the pickin's will be slim!). This time, I had the butter cake and it was delicious and complimented my flavored latte brilliantly. Staff is always friendly and amazing! Don't be in a huge rush when you go there and be sure to head out back - there's a beautifully manicured and cared for garden area with some seating and tables sprinkled around the grounds to sit, sip and take it all in - giving faraway feel vibes. I posted a bunch of new pics and vids this visit (including of the garden area) so check them out and see what the inside is like as well as a cool vid of the pretty garden area. I would recommend coming here (when it's not too hot lol) to stroll around the entire Historic Corolla Village. You can truly spend a day here - at least a few hours / half day - just park your car ANYWHERE - plenty of parking in the historic village and just start strolling. Everything is walkable and it's so easy to explore the area. Hit the tiny Corolla Village BBQ shack for great pork bbq sandwiches $10 (top off your sando with their coleslaw yum!), check out the famous Corolla lighthouse and stop in to the lighthouse gift shop, visit the maritime museum, stroll by the beautiful yellow painted Whalehead Club mansion, browse the Island Bookstore, visit the Wildlife Education Center / Museum or just be lazy and bring a chair and a book and camp out on a grassy spot overlooking the sound. The Kind Cup though should be your first stop to grab a latte and a pastry! Can't get much better than that! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Just ate the best muffin I've ever had in my life on the way home from obx. Thanks to The Kind cup!…read moreEverything bagel muffin with cream cheese inside- everything bagel spices on top. Perfectly baked. Coffee was on par too. Great stop. Cute art offerings and souvenirs too. *sorry no muffin pic, I inhaled it like a seagull with a french fry. *I believe this is a special recipe from one of the locals. Chefs kiss!

Great food and service! I went after a day at the park and the meal I got was so filling. I…read moredefinitely will be back

We fittingly tried Southland on our way back south to NC from VA. Except for the fried chicken, it…read morereally didn't highlight North Carolina's culinary talents very well. I tried the chopped, they called it minced, BBQ. It was very finely chopped, without any texture, and heavily seasoned with a vinegar-based sauce. It was definitely not the best Eastern NC 'Q I've eaten. At least the slaw seemed freshly made. I paid an up charge for sweet potato fries and was rewarded with a heaping helping of undercooked frozen sweet potato fries that were closer to tasteless than tasty. The hush puppies were just balls of bready blandness - yuck. My dining companion tried the fried chicken and pulled pork combo. She thought the fried chicken was good and based on the number of other Customers ordering it, this is Southland's main draw. The pulled pork was stringy strands of pork seasoned like the chopped 'Q; she tried a couple of bites and gave up. Our server was not attentive and seemed like she didn't really care too much. The tasty fried chicken knocked Southland out of the running for a 1-star review, but all-in-all our meal just wasn't very good and really doesn't paint NC BBQ in a positive light.

This place was amazing!! Amazing coffee good vibe nice and friendly staff and very helpful. Every…read moretime I visit OBX I'll be coming in!

Very good Iced White Chocolate Mocha! Friendly and welcoming staff! They have a few seats if you…read morewant to sit in and there are other shops in the same parking lot.

The bagels are always fresh and delicious. Cannot go to the Outer Banks without going to lighthouse…read morebagels and deli!

The bagels are amazing and the coffee cake is to die for! Highly recommend for someone wanting an…read moreeasy but so delicious breakfast!

The biscuit breakfast sandwiches with eggs, cheese, and bacon/sausage were really good!read more

After my experience at multiple Donut shops across the U.S I would rate Northern Lights Bakery one…read moreof the lesser experiences. To get straight to the point, the donuts are dense and not worth the wait/price. The worker was manning the cashier and putting donuts in boxes although she did have gloves, the gloves didn't seem to be getting changed. Not sure if some people down south have taste but the line to this place was long. There were flies everywhere. Although the staff were nice, they are understaffed and not clean. This place is another beach vacation money grab to travelers. Update: Found a baked in hair in one of the glazed donuts. Never Again DO NOT waste your $.